Thread: tipping in general

Hi
I always accept the autotip and pay the "suggested" amount without any problems. Some lines (P&O) still expect passengers to donate tips to their waiters/cabin steward at the end of the cruise and I always give the amount suggested by the company in full. However, I would prefer that the tips were included in the basic cost of the cruise. I know some people believe that the quality of the service would fall if this was the case but I have cruised with Silversea 's where tipping is already included and service was the best I have ever had.

Nice job, Ned. You have placed some definite numbers on things. No, that is not a bad salary but remember most of the crew work very long days.

Some of you may not like the concept of tipping, but that's the way it is. We pay the suggested amounts on cruises, and on rare occasions tip cash on top of that (on RCI this past September, the assistant waiter and headwaiter both went the extra mile and got extra cash). It's not an even system, for sure. I know a fellow who works as a waiter for a higher-end restaurant who makes well over $60k a year - he's very good at it, but that's not exactly the "minimum wage" that many people talk about! I worked as a tour guide for 17 years, though, and tips were the only reason I stayed that long. I could more than double my wage with tips, even when guiding groups from cultures who other guides say don't tip. I still guide one trip a year - a 10-day Alaska-Yukon cruisetour. I do it because of a combination of enjoying the job and receiving good pay when tips are considered. I'm very good at it but without tips I wouldn't leave home to do it.

There is nothing wrong with paying tips for the extra mile but first of all made clear the situation about the salaries because some people belief they get extreme low salaries.
We also have no problems to pay the fixed tips and also pay for the extra mile but there is no need for smashing around with tips believing it’s the only they get. Many people get confused about tips onboard and there are always many discussions about it, therefore I feel someone has to find out the real true about salaries and extra’s of crew members so the view getting more clear and people should not feel guilty to buy a cruise ticket.

Jus trade it like you take a nice dinner in a restaurant and pay a tip for the nice service you get. Next, it’s not only the money but surely also the way how you pay respect to crew members, be polite and made from time to time a nice complement helps them with motivation and gives a good feeling. If things went wrong, just stay calm, don’t blow up the story bigger then they are and not be rude, with a little understanding and politeness most problems will be solve.

A cruise ticket is not a bonus card to be rude, we are all human.

Originally Posted by nedstar2

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A cruise ticket is not a bonus card to be rude, we are all human.

Could not agree with you more on that quote, Ned!